Developing MCT/GMFC Board Situation

[TRVMP]

Pasting it here because there's a chance the site will go down due to all the interest:

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An Update from MCT and GMFC

Over the last week, we are aware that there have been several stories in the public domain, we apologise for the lack of updates but can assure supporters that there have been lots of conversations happening in the background to try and pave a positive way forward.

MCT Board Update

Over the last week, there have been several changes to the MCT Board, most recently last night. Last week, both Tom Tracey and David McCluskey stepped down from their positions. In addition, Sandra McGregor, Graham McLennan and George Wall both resigned last night, with Graham McLennan also resigning his position as an Honorary Director of GMFC. Prior to those resignations last night, Chris Samson, Stuart Duncan and David Whitton were co-opted onto the MCT Board. Jon Keen will also continue to remain as a director.

This means the current interim MCT Board is:

• Jon Keen (existing MCT Director)
• Chris Samson (previously served on the MCT Board)
• David Whitton (part of the MCT Ops Team and had been acting as an Associate Director)
• Stuart Duncan (previously served on the MCT Board and as Company Secretary)

It is important to note that this Board has very much been set up as an interim Board until a General Meeting can be held and a newly constituted Board put in place. This is to allow for stability for MCT in the coming weeks and a fair and open process for director elections. Plans for a Special Meeting are already underway and we will look to communicate that process to members to discuss and determine the way forward as soon as possible.

This will also enable the interim Board to engage with Dalrada and the GMFC Board about the way forward for the club. Importantly, the interim Board will act as a vehicle for communicating details of the Dalrada proposal with the MCT membership, as it is the members who will have the say on whether it is acceptable or not.

Relationship between MCT and GMFC

With the various changes that have taken place on the MCT Board in recent months, the previous relationship between MCT and GMFC at Board level had a long way to go to become a constructive working relationship.

It is very clear that a firm reset is required, and this working dynamic cannot continue. The two Boards need to be working closely in conjunction, if not as one, with each other and we hope that with the changes that have occurred within MCT that this will be possible.

It is very clear that both the GMFC Board and interim MCT Board are ready and willing to engage with each other, and this will start immediately.

FIFA Sanction

The GMFC Board fully accepts and acknowledges than many MCT members feel it is unacceptable that this information was withheld.

It took the club several weeks after the 17th March to ascertain the full true facts of what had happened. The GMFC Board acknowledge that the way this story became public was unsavoury and we apologise for that. However, there was a lot of work required engaging with the Scottish FA, Liverpool and FIFA to gain clarity on the situation, with it dating back to June 2023. We were required to engage with two different offices within FIFA, as you can imagine with an organisation of that scale that has not been a straightforward process.

With the team pushing for the playoffs, it was also agreed that the issue would be kept under wraps as tightly as possible, especially until we had a full grasp of everything that had happened, the potential implications and the route for resolving.

Our intention with our approach was to avoid any disruption to the team’s playoff push. We could have shared this information after the matchday where we were no longer in playoff contention, and we had reached a point of reasonable understanding of the situation. The priority has very much been resolving the issue and an internal review of the process which led to this point was planned to follow.

We fully understand that the above reasoning won’t be valid justification for some, but decisions were made with the best intentions. What has been evident in the last week is that the relationship between the two Boards has not been conducive to a positive flow of information between each other. What is clear is that there is now a willingness from everyone involved on the GMFC Board and interim MCT Board to build that trust moving forward.

Sam Robinson and Graham Barr

It would obviously be remiss of both Boards not to touch on the reported situation with the two MCT Reps on the GMFC Board, Sam Robinson and Graham Barr. The reality of the situation is that it was very unclear for the GMFC Board what was happening, no conversations took place with Sam and Graham from MCT and only a short email was delivered and not followed up on. This left the GMFC Board in limbo as we were all unclear on the situation.

What has been portrayed is Dalrada holding MCT to ransom over Sam and Graham. While Dalrada did state that they wanted that decision reversed, we would emphasise that this is down to the way it was done, not because Dalrada were not open to changes, if these changes benefit the business.

One of Brian Bonar’s requests to MCT several months ago was not that the GMFC Board could not be changed, but that any changes made would need to be reasonable, discussed with the GMFC Board including Ross Gourdie, the Dalrada representative, and the way forward agreed for the best of the club.

Sam and Graham did not immediately step away due to the above and the lack of engagement on the issue. Both Sam and Graham’s priority, as stated to MCT in their response to the email, is the financial health of the club and wellbeing of the staff. The current interim MCT Board are both willing and looking forward to working with Sam and Graham in the coming weeks as we all look to find a positive way forward.

Dalrada

A process will now begin of Dalrada engaging with the GMFC Board and MCT Board regarding what will be on the table from them moving forward. All parties will meet urgently this week and get the ball rolling on the discussions.

The interim MCT Board will look to share information with members as soon as possible as all parties look to get the club onto a stable footing with everyone working together.

While it has felt like the club has ground to a halt in the last week, it is important that does not happen. The plan is to have season tickets on sale later this week to supporters, while a squad update will be slightly delayed this year as conversations take place with Dalrada. We will also look to provide an update on the FIFA situation shortly.

I'm at work so not even going to try to read and process this right now except to say that, at a personal level, I'm sorry Graham has resigned, including as an Honorary Director. Without him I shudder to think where the club would be right now.

[BishopBrennan]

So the GMFC board are now trying to claim the reason they didn't tell the manager and the club's owners about a transfer embargo was because we were pushing for the playoffs. Do they think we zip up the back? Disingenuous nonsense. 

[dunning1874]

So I've endeavoured throughout every statement being released on this to take everything at face value and in good faith, to stop my own leanings and emotions getting in the way of understanding what's actually happened here, but this:

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With the team pushing for the playoffs, it was also agreed that the issue would be kept under wraps as tightly as possible, especially until we had a full grasp of everything that had happened, the potential implications and the route for resolving.

Our intention with our approach was to avoid any disruption to the team’s playoff push. We could have shared this information after the matchday where we were no longer in playoff contention, and we had reached a point of reasonable understanding of the situation. The priority has very much been resolving the issue and an internal review of the process which led to this point was planned to follow.

We fully understand that the above reasoning won’t be valid justification for some, but decisions were made with the best intentions. What has been evident in the last week is that the relationship between the two Boards has not been conducive to a positive flow of information between each other. What is clear is that there is now a willingness from everyone involved on the GMFC Board and interim MCT Board to build that trust moving forward.

 

This is the biggest pile of disingenuous bullshit I have ever had the misfortune to read and that informs how much faith you can put in the rest of it.

[SpoonTon]

My main question at the moment is still about what Dalrada wants. 

[Tubes]

That is a fucking mess! 

Dalrada have their guy on the board, and clearly want/need a say in everything with wanting Barr/Robinson kept on because they didn’t like the way it was done? Get that to fuck. They do not own the club. The two directors absolutely shouldn’t be anywhere near things after this. No wonder the father in law chucked MCT aswell, a weird turn of events with that wee nugget of info too. 

Mistakes have been made, rip things up and fucking start again is probably what’s needed. MCT members voting for positions of people for both boards.

It’s a total clusterfuck and embarrassing. Hard to blame players and manager looking elsewhere. The way Millen was dealt with was a total joke and some wee snidey comment on fb by an MCT director said it all by highlighting his contract was up implying no wrong was done. The respect and closeness Millen has with Dougie, the players and coaching team is there for all to see and to piss that up the wall is a joke, especially in the manner it was done too. If it was related to the Raith incident, he should be commended because Barrowman and co are a shower of absolute pricks.

Edited May 13 by Tubes

[Dirk Gently]

15 minutes ago, SpoonTon said:

My main question at the moment is still about what Dalrada wants. 

Stability, and to work with people they know and trust.  They're handing over a lot of money and want to have a handle on who is entrusted with spending it. 

[irnbru]

"One of Brian Bonar’s requests to MCT several months ago was not that the GMFC Board could not be changed, but that any changes made would need to be reasonable, discussed with the GMFC Board including Ross Gourdie, the Dalrada representative, and the way forward agreed for the best of the club."

He isn't the owner, MCT are. It should never be up to a sponsor to decide who the MCT board want as their representatives on the club board. 

Edited May 13 by irnbru

[irnbru]

43 minutes ago, BishopBrennan said:

So the GMFC board are now trying to claim the reason they didn't tell the manager and the club's owners about a transfer embargo was because we were pushing for the playoffs. Do they think we zip up the back? Disingenuous nonsense. 

I get that statement for the wider fan base, but the fact the clubs owners weren't made aware by their representatives on the board isn't a good thing. 

There needs to be an EGM for MCT and these two reps on the Morton board need replaced. 

[Charles_Joe]

What are Dalrada actually getting out of sponsoring a middle of the road second tier Scottish football team??

If we rule out altruism, is their motive being scrutinised?

It’s starting to feel very shady. 

[CM48]

What might be helpful for most of us is perhaps hearing from all the people concerned at MCT and the club exactly why they stood down, or were told to stand down, or why they asked others to stand down.

If those who were asked to leave didn't do what everyone now suspects they're guilty of then surely they'd want to come out and defend themselves publicly? Nothing has to be sensationalist or slander.

Same goes for Dalrada on why they might think these possible changes might be unreasonable? As far as I can see Ross Gourdie who seems to be their official representative wasn't asked to step away?

One last thought. Do the same people on the board who think a "short email" asking Barr and Robinson to step down wasn't good enough also think that how Millen was allegedly let go was also not good enough?

Edited May 13 by CM48

[SpoonTon]

21 minutes ago, Dirk Gently said:

Stability, and to work with people they know and trust.  They're handing over a lot of money and want to have a handle on who is entrusted with spending it. 

 How does that relate to this:

"Importantly, the interim Board will act as a vehicle for communicating details of the Dalrada proposal with the MCT membership, as it is the members who will have the say on whether it is acceptable or not."

What is it that we have to decide is acceptable or not?

[HamCam]

Whatever statement came out it was never going to satisfy people. The one positive is it appears to include input from both MCT and GMFC. Everyone needs to put their egos and agendas to one side and work together to resolve this mess with or without Dalrada as the main sponsor. At the same time it is essential shareholders, MCT members and fans are kept in the loop. The issue is the longer the talking goes on the more disruption to preparation for next season.

[TopCat]

10 minutes ago, SpoonTon said:

 How does that relate to this:

"Importantly, the interim Board will act as a vehicle for communicating details of the Dalrada proposal with the MCT membership, as it is the members who will have the say on whether it is acceptable or not."

What is it that we have to decide is acceptable or not?

I'd assumed this line was included to give Dalrada/Morton/MCT a final chance to tweak the offer currently on the table before a summary is made public. This is probably the only acceptable outcome for me at this stage, given that there's been such big communication problems, plus all the other rumours and embarassing statements. 

[GiGi]

44 minutes ago, Dirk Gently said:

Stability, and to work with people they know and trust.  They're handing over a lot of money and want to have a handle on who is entrusted with spending it. 

This pushing of the Dalrada line means you probably have some involvement. 

I understand Dalrada wanting to have representation when they are putting generous sums into the club. What I don't understand is why they want undue influence over what makes changes to the board reasonable. That's a complete overreach. 

MCT are the club's majority shareholder. Dalrada to my knowledge own no shares. 

[Charles_Joe]

Dalrada should be chased. We can’t allow a situation where the financial viability of the club is contingent on a sponsor that have a history of missing payments. 
We wouldn’t accept this behaviour from The Cardwell Garden Centre. 

[Dirk Gently]

31 minutes ago, Charles_Joe said:

Dalrada should be chased. We can’t allow a situation where the financial viability of the club is contingent on a sponsor that have a history of missing payments. 
We wouldn’t accept this behaviour from The Cardwell Garden Centre. 

Yep.  Dalrada not making payments in a timely manner but at the same time issuing time-limited ultimatums reeks of double-standards.

[Dirk Gently]

44 minutes ago, GiGi said:

This pushing of the Dalrada line means you probably have some involvement. 

I understand Dalrada wanting to have representation when they are putting generous sums into the club. What I don't understand is why they want undue influence over what makes changes to the board reasonable. That's a complete overreach. 

MCT are the club's majority shareholder. Dalrada to my knowledge own no shares. 

Perhaps stability is the key word.  Perhaps it's not about who the reps actually are.  Maybe it's about whether Dalrada feel they can trust them or not, and for that they have to know them and have an existing relationship.   Perhaps they thought that MCT removing known and trusted people overnight and replacing them with who knows would destabilize the football club too much for them to want to hand their money over.  So maybe it's not about shareholding, it's about knowing and trusting who you're donating your money to.

[Jamie_M]

51 minutes ago, TopCat said:

I'd assumed this line was included to give Dalrada/Morton/MCT a final chance to tweak the offer currently on the table before a summary is made public. This is probably the only acceptable outcome for me at this stage, given that there's been such big communication problems, plus all the other rumours and embarassing statements. 

I think the point is around MCT membership having a say on whether it is 'acceptable' or not.

When would they usually have to approve a sponsorship deal unless there is more to it this time?

[TRVMP]

1 minute ago, Dirk Gently said:

Perhaps stability is the key word.  Perhaps it's not about who the reps actually are.  Maybe it's about whether Dalrada feel they can trust them or not, and for that they have to know them and have an existing relationship.   Perhaps they thought that MCT removing known and trusted people overnight and replacing them with who knows would destabilize the football club too much for them to want to hand their money over.  So maybe it's not about shareholding, it's about knowing and trusting who you're donating your money to.

Let's be clear that it's not a donation in that case. In exchange for their funds they have naming rights for the stadium and also want some measure of oversight of the Board of Directors. Neither of these is worthless.

I don't altogether disagree that they are justified in wanting some measure of stability and predictability, but it ceases to be a donation when it comes with strings attached, and begins to look a lot more like a structured commercial agreement... which is exactly what sponsorship is.

[Chicken_Soup]

1 hour ago, HamCam said:

Whatever statement came out it was never going to satisfy people. The one positive is it appears to include input from both MCT and GMFC. Everyone needs to put their egos and agendas to one side and work together to resolve this mess with or without Dalrada as the main sponsor. At the same time it is essential shareholders, MCT members and fans are kept in the loop. The issue is the longer the talking goes on the more disruption to preparation for next season.

My view on this statement is that it doesn’t include input from both MCT and GMFC. Several members of the MCT board have resigned rather than put their name to this. 

 

“…it was also agreed that the issue would be kept under wraps as tightly as possible…”

Agreed by who? As an MCT member, I would expect any representative who withheld this information from us (and worse, from the manager) to resign immediately. If Barr and Robinson were told to conceal that information, or chose to do so, their position is untenable. This statement is an admission of guilt without naming names.
 

If we’re foolish enough to believe that Dalrada’s only issue was the way it was done, let’s do it a different way - an EGM. If they cared about the club, as this statement claims, they would have walked already and spared everyone this chaos. 

Edited May 13 by Chicken_Soup